Locals prepare for alligator season

Friday

Aug 23, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 23, 2013 at 11:58 PM

Local hunters are getting excited about the state's alligator season that runs from Wednesday to Sept. 15.

Chance RyanStaff Writer

Local hunters are getting excited about the state's alligator season that runs from Wednesday to Sept. 15. The sport is exciting, profitable and tough, said Chris Gomez, a licensed and insured alligator hunter for Alligator Hunt La in Bayou Black. Gomez takes up to two people at a time to hunt on private property. Alligator Hunt La provides everything a good gator hunter needs, Gomez said, including a Cajun lunch, a boat, bait, hooks and the chance to shoot an alligator in the head with a .22 caliber gun. Alligators are caught on lines suspended over the water as part of the harvesting process, which allows for a clean, humane kill, Gomez said. After the alligator is killed, it's hauled into the boat and transported back to base. “People get excited about hauling in a big fish,” Gomez said. “But imagine getting a 600-pound alligator at the other end of your hook.” Gomez said alligators have become a high commodity and the thrill of hunting them, inspired by reality TV shows, has helped their business. People from all over the world are coming to the region to hunt alligators, he said.Alligator hunting is big business in Louisiana.Noel Kinler, head of the alligator program for the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, said the agency is continuing to sell more nonresident hunting licenses. It is anticipating issuing about 38,000 tags this year for the harvesting of about 34,000 alligators out of the roughly 2 million that swarm the state. The season, Kinler said, typically generates about $60 million. But Wildlife and Fisheries has also seen an increase in the number of alligator hunting violations and says the growing popularity of gator-based reality TV shows, such as the History Channel's show “Swamp People,” is one reason why. Paul Yakupzack, Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge manager, said the hunting sensation has gotten out of hand. “Many people didn't have an interest and now it's a big deal,” he said. “The 'Swamp People' stuff is all Hollywood. It's a lot of hard work getting those big alligators in the boat and getting them to the dock. It's not as glamorous as the show leads on and I've been doing this for 30 years.” The season is great for tourism, Yakupzack said. But he didn't like recently finding three dead alligators that looked like they had been shot and left decaying in the refuge for no good reason. Capt. Chuck Comeaux, Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement officer, said the number of out-of-season alligator violations has probably doubled in the last couple of years. “People need to realize that they have to get the right licenses and alligator tags,” he said. “There is not a recreational take of alligators.”To legally kill an alligator in Louisiana, a person needs an alligator hunting license, permission to hunt from a wetlands owner and a tag from wildlife officials for each gator caught. Without following these steps, poachers could face up to a $950 fine and 120 days in jail. The state issues a set number of tags per year to help control the alligator population. Louisiana residents pay $25 for an alligator-hunting license and there is no cost for alligator tags. It cost nonresidents $150 for a license. Residents not having permission to harvest alligators on private and public lands and lakes can take them as a sport hunter while accompanied by a guide, who is a licensed individual who possesses tags from the state. Non-residents can only harvest alligators while accompanied by a guide.To report alligator violations anonymously, call Wildlife and Fisheries' 24-hour Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-442-2511.People can anonymously text their tip to 847411 or download the “LADWF Tips” iPhone app from the Apple iTunes store free of charge. Information: wlf.louisiana.gov/wildlife/alligator-hunting.

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